Pella, Osky Restaurant Owners Sentenced

The United States Department of Justice has announced that three local restaurant owners and operators have been sentenced for harboring illegal aliens and for filing false statements on the restaurants tax returns by not listing the illegal aliens as employees. Ali Bayram, 60, of Oskaloosa ran the Oskaloosa Family restaurant along with Fikret Bayram, 59 of Monmouth Illinois. Ali Sengul, 44, of Pella, operated the Tulip Garden in Pella. All three were sentenced to two years of probation, and ordered to pay restitution of nearly $16,000 to the IRS. Ali Bayram and Fikret Bayram were also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. The Department of Justice concluded that all three hired illegal aliens knowingly, and provided housing as well. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security and the IRS.